Fence-post



(NoModBL) ARKS.

FENCE POST. No. 605,355. Patented June 7, 1898.

lhvenfiar: JAMEs H. SPARKS,

ma Noam; ws'rsns co. PNOTD-LITNQ, WASHINGTON c. c

JAMES H. SPARKS, OF HOBBIEVILLE, INDIANA, ASS IGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ASBURY F. MOOD, OF BUENA VISTA, INDIANA.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,355, dated June 7, 1898.

Application filed March 10, 1 8 9 8.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JAMES H. SPARKS, a citi zenof the United States, and a resident of I-Iobbieville, Greene county, State of Indiana,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and my preferred manner of carrying out the invention is set forth in the following full, clear, and exact description, terminating with claims particu- 10 larly specifying the novelty.

This invention relates to fences, and more especially to the posts thereof; and the object of the same is to produce an improved post and base therefor.

To this end the invention consists in the metallic post and the clay base, each constructed as hereinafter more fully set forth and as illustrated in the drawings, wherein Figure 1' is a side elevation of this post and base, with the latter buried in the ground,

which is indicated in "section. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the post and a vertical section of the base, viewed at right angles to the line of Fig. 1 and all wires being omitted. Fig. 3 is 2 5 a plan view of the base and a section of the post. Fig. 4 is a .section across the center of the base. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the base. i

The base-The post P, described below, is

0 intended for use in connection with a base B of peculiar construction, and which base is preferably formed of clay or the like suitably pressed and burned into the desired shape. The body portion of this base is approxi-' 3 5 mately round at its upper end, as seen in Fig. 3 at 1, from which it grows gradually wider toward its lower end longitudinal of the fence to the point 2, as seen in Fig. 1, though its thickness, as seen in Fig. 2, preferably does 0 not increase. Below theline 2 is formed a decided flange 3 at the extreme lower end of the body. Exteriorly of and integral with this body and at the sides thereof which stand parallel with the fence are two flanges 4..

Each flange is preferably beveled off, as at 5, at its upper endand is rather narrow at this point, as seen in Fig. 3, from which it grows thicker toward the lower end of the base, as seen in Figs. 4: and 5,,and finally merges into the bottom flange 3, as will be clear. The

Serial No. 673,389. (No model.)

tending from its lower end upward to a point 7, constituting a shoulder, and above the latter a narrow slot 8 extends to and through the upper end of the body. This slot is slightly tapered from one end to theother, as seen in Fig. 8,

The post-The post proper is preferably of galvanized iron and of any desired length above the base. In cross-section it is shaped to conform with theslot 8 in the base, being thicker at one edge and thinner at the other, and from the thinner edge fine slots 10 are cut obliquely inward and downward to holes 11. Through thelatter are intended to be passedthe fence-wires in the act of building the fence, after which a slight tap with a hammer or suitable tool on the tongue 12 at the lowerside of each slot will close this tongue tightly against the wire and hold it in the hole through the post. To remove it therefrom, a fine chiselis inserted and driven into the slot to open it again, after which the wire may be drawnout. It will be clear that the wires can be plain or barbed orthat apicket fence can be supported by these posts if the pickets are sustained by horizontal wires.

Obviously the endmost or corner posts should have fence-wire tighteners of some character, or if the stretch of straight fence is very long these tighteners will be inserted at suitbase. The latter is then seated in a suitable hole in the ground and the earth 'tamped or packed tightly around its body and flanges.

The wires are then strung in the usual manner, the lowermost one occupyinga hole just above the upper end of the base, or, if preferred, a spike, pin, or other form of key could occupy this hole to prevent the post from pushing downward into the base. The two parts of the fence-post are thus locked together firmly and strongly though removably, and the fence-wires are held in the post proper, as above described.

The especial advantages'of this construction of base are many. The upwardly-tapering form of its body and the presence of the lower flange 3 prevent the pulling of the base upward out of the ground. The lateral flatness or oval configuration of the body, together with the presence of the side flanges or wings 4,prevents the post from tipping over sidewise, as when the fence is forcibly pushed laterally, and especially is this true because the wings 4 are wider at their upper ends, while the longitudinal strain on the fencewires (never so great as lateral strains that are liable to occur) is resisted by the size of the body of the base, its deep seating in the ground, and its bottom flange 3,which, in fact, thoroughly resists any undesirable movement of the base. The aperture 6 may be filled with cement,if desired; but at any rate the action of the elements will have no effect on either the galvanized post or the clay base, and the expansion and contraction of parts under varying degrees of temperature will also have no injurious results. The beveled upper corners 5 of the win gs prevent them from being chipped off by accidental blows from stones or the hoofs of stock. The tapered shape of the slot 8 prevents the reinsertion of a post with its wire-openings at the wrong side. The removability of the ring or stop 20 allows even the withdrawal of a post upward from the base when for any reason it cannot be pushed downward therethrough, and the advantages of the openings for the fence-wire will be clear.

Considerable change in the specific details of construction may be made without departing from the principle of my invention. I have shown in-dotted lines in Fig. 2 how a plate 40 should be passed over the upper end of the base and carried down on and clamped to opposite sides thereof. This plate would serve in the nature of a washer between the metal key 30 and the upper end of the clay base and might often prevent chipping of the latter by the former.

What is claimed as newis-- 1. In a fence-post, the combination with a base; of a post supported thereby and flat and tapering in cross-section, holes through the post, oblique slots cut from the thinner edge of the post into the holes, and fencewires removably passing through the latter, substantially as described. I

2. In a fence-post, the combination with a base having an aperture in its lower end leading upward to a shoulder and a slot in its up per end leading downward through the shoulder; of a post proper of a shape to fit said slot and having an eye at its lower extremity, a removable stop in said eye and of a size to pass into the aperture and strike the shoulder, and a fence supported by the post, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a fence-post, the combination with a base having an aperture in its lower end leading upward to a shoulder and a slot in its upper end leading downward through the shoul der, said slot tapering in width from one edge to the other; of a post proper of a shape to fit said slot and having an eye at its lower extremity, a removable stop in said eye and of a size to pass into the aperture and strike the shoulder, holes through the post where it projects above the base, fence-wires supported in said holes, and a key removably inserted in' the lowermost hole at a point just above the upper end of the base, as and for g their upper ends and thinner at that point and growing thicker to their lower ends, substantially as described.

6. The herein-described fence-post base of clay or the like, the same consisting of a body substantially round in cross-section at its upper end and oval in cross-section near its lower end, and upright wings on diametrically opposite sides of said body and corresponding with the longest diameter at its lower end, the outer edges of said wings standing on substantially parallel lines, substantially as described.

7. The herein-describedfence-post base of clay or the like, the same consisting of a body substantially round in cross-section at its upper end and oval in cross-section near its lower end, and upright wings on diametrically opposite sides of said body and corresponding with the longest diameter at its lower end, the outer edges of said wings standing on substantially parallel lines and their bodies be ing thinner at their upper'ends and thicker at their lower ends, substantially as described.

8. The herein-described fencepost base,the same comprising an upright body substantially round at its upper end and oval near its lower end, a horizontal bottom flange at its lower end, and upright side wings corresponding with the longest diameter of the body and extending from its upper end where the wings are thinner down to and merging scribed my signature on this the 7th day of into the flange at its lower end. Where the March, A. D.1898. wings are thicker, the outer edges of said wings standing in parallel lines and the whole 5 being of clay or the like, substantially as de- Witnesses:

scribed. JAMES 00X,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub- JAMES BYERS.

JAMES H. SPARKS. 

